Meaning: Leo Kottke, an American acoustic guitarist known for his innovative fingerpicking style, made this statement reflecting on the challenges he faced in the music industry. In this quote, Kottke acknowledges that he is not easily marketable or easily categorized within a specific genre or demographic. He recognizes that this has made it difficult for him to receive widespread radio airplay or fit neatly into the commercial music landscape. However, he also highlights the advantage of not being subject to trends, suggesting that his music has a timeless quality that transcends fleeting fads.

Kottke's observations shed light on the complex relationship between artists and the music industry. His comment reflects the struggle that many musicians face when their work does not neatly align with the expectations of record companies or mainstream audiences. The music industry often relies on marketing strategies and demographic targeting to promote artists and their music, and Kottke's unique style presents a challenge to these traditional approaches.

Kottke's music is characterized by its eclectic blend of styles, drawing from folk, blues, jazz, and classical influences. This diversity makes it difficult to pigeonhole him into a single category, and as a result, his music may not easily fit within the parameters of radio playlists or marketing campaigns aimed at specific demographic groups. This lack of a clear marketing niche can pose challenges for record companies seeking to promote his music to a mass audience.

The notion of being "hard to demography" speaks to the difficulty of categorizing Kottke's music within the framework of targeted marketing. Demographic targeting is a common practice in the music industry, where labels and promoters aim to tailor their efforts to specific age groups, cultural backgrounds, or consumer preferences. However, Kottke's music, with its broad appeal and diverse influences, may not neatly align with the expectations of any particular demographic, making it a challenge to market to a specific audience.

Despite the challenges he faces, Kottke also sees the upside of his unique position in the industry. By not easily fitting into predefined categories or trends, he suggests that his music is not subject to the ebb and flow of popular styles. This implies that his work possesses a timeless quality that transcends the transient nature of musical trends. In a music landscape where artists often rise and fall with the changing tides of popular taste, Kottke's ability to remain outside these trends may offer him a degree of artistic freedom and longevity.

In conclusion, Leo Kottke's quote reflects the challenges and advantages of being an artist who defies easy categorization within the music industry. His unique blend of musical styles and refusal to conform to demographic expectations has made it difficult for record companies to market his music effectively. However, Kottke also sees the benefits of not being subject to trends, suggesting that his music possesses a timeless quality that transcends the fickleness of popular culture. This quote provides insight into the complexities of navigating the commercial music landscape as an artist who defies easy classification.